Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

25 reviews

lillygabriella's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

0.25

If I could rate this zero stars I would. Publishing standards have gone seriously downhill if something like this not only got through but became popular. Somehow. The author knows absolutely nothing about history she didn't pick up third hand filtered through 1950s Hollywood B movies, and didn't bother to do any research at all. There is NO history in this "historical" setting. The author cannot maintain any timeline continuity from one page to the next, has a Hollywood oppression level of knowledge about corsetry, and even less about poisons or how to construct a decent mystery. 

Further ranting on this horrific trash fire of a novel can be found in my Amazon review. I am only glad I was reading it on Kindle Unlimited, if I had paid actual money for this atrocity I would be utterly livid. I only finished from spite and because it was a reading challenge book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

There are so many better books out there, please don't waste your precious time on this.

ladybug12793's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Good Halloween read. 


I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and I finished it in less than 24 hours. It’s perfect for the spooky season because it’s fantasy with a little bit of mystery and ghosts. What I didn’t like is that the romance went from 0 to 1000 in about 0.25 seconds. Then, by the end of it, I was genuinely curious what the point of it all was. Also, confused about the murder’s plot. Even with those things, I had fun reading this book. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to read an easy, cozy, slightly spooky romantasy. However, If you are looking for some literary masterpiece, then I wouldn’t recommend this book.

0.5 🌶️

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content

Minor: Suicide attempt

niya_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol

tessamariee's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to really love this, but it was predictable and the characters were not flushed out enough. It fell a little flat in my opinion. It was fun though! I love a good slow burn and I love some of the personalities in the family! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, and Vomit

Moderate: Gore, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexism, and Terminal illness

theresamothinmyroom's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Body shaming, Gore, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship

nanila's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Minor: Sexism

booking_along's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

this was lovely. 

well written and nicely plotted out, filled with well done characters. 

it had some pacing issues since some sections were really slow and especially the climax and big reveal all happened to fast and basically all at once and the lead up to those final reveal moments felt rushed -almost as if the author remembered that the book had to end now and it all had to be solved and revealed still. 

but while i think those moments could have been done better i didn’t kind the slow moments and the long build up.

i enjoyed Signa as a character a lot and absolutely loved Death! 


i didn’t love the ending

cliffhangers for this type of story isn’t my favorite. i would prefer it if authors just make me want to pick up the next book because i want to be back with the characters and experience a new thing with them instead of being left with this open ending of sorts.

but it wasn’t horrible just not my preferred way. 


all in all very enjoyable and a good experience and i am excited to continue on and see what Signa will experience next. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism and Alcohol

j_day's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Not my genre but still enjoyable enough. Predicted

Sylas being death and Percy being the murderer

from less than halfway through but this didn't spoil it too much - although I would've preferred not to have worked it out so quickly!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

samflowerv6's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

“Hello, Little Bird. Come to stab me again?”
I love the personification of death as a character/love interest so much, SO MUCH. This story was lush in imagery and I loved the world. Signa is such a strong and interesting character. The whole concept

of her being a reaper and immune to death is so cool

. The opening chapter/prologue was instantly interesting. I would have also have folded for death, I AM JUST BEING REAL. Death literally had me giggling and twirling my hair. He was so poetically dark and beautiful. The entire mystery and general vibes were so misty and steeped in flavorful imagery. This is for a specific type of person and that person is me. People complain about someone literally as old as time with someone who is barely an adult and I know it's problematic but why are they usually so good? DONT QUOTE ME. Signa and Death are my favorite snarky eternally fated couple. 

“Your name is no curse, Little Bird. I just like the taste of it”

“To me, you are a song to a soul that has never known music. Light to someone who has only seen the darkness. You bring out the absolute worst in me, and I become vindictive toward those who treat you in ways I don’t care for. Yet you also bring out the best in me—I want to be better because of you. Better for you.”

“Because I have waited an eternity to meet you, Signa Farrow.”

“And at other times you are an endless annoyance. Always, though, you are a fascination”

“I have waited for you for millennia, Signa Farrow.” There was a silky husk to his voice now, too pleased for his own good. “Since the dawn of this earth, I have waited. You are mine, and I am yours. And together, this world is ours.” 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol

tabea1409's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism